About the Best of the Best Issue

For over 20 years, Charlotte magazine has dedicated its May issue to the BEST of theBEST in Charlotte. We call it “The BOBs” for short, and we recognize the city’s finest in food and drink, entertainment, shopping, mind and body, and more–almost a hundred winners in all. After the list is published, we host an event to celebrate the winners.

This year’s BOB Awards arrive at a tumultuous time for Charlotte businesses and nonprofits. So let’s celebrate them. Throughout the categories below, you’ll find 400 reasons to raise a locally sourced drink to our city. These people, places, and bearded dragons are reminders that we live in a dynamic community, and even in the time of social distancing, we’re here together.

How does it work?

Winners are picked and written up by staffers, former staffers, and regular contributors of Charlotte magazine. When we pick a winner, not only have we been there, but we’ve been to several other top contenders as well. We are confident in saying that our pick is the best in town.

We also ask the Charlotte community to vote for their favorites in a few categories, and voting opens in January each year.

The BEST of the BEST Party

Sample fresh bites and festive cocktails from award-winning restaurants, enjoy live entertainment and much more, as we celebrate this year’s BEST OF THE BEST of Charlotte in a beautiful garden oasis at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte magazine’s annual spring Best of the Best Party has been rescheduled to Oct. 1, 2020.